Term 1, Week 4, 2025

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Tēnā  koutou, e te whānau o Howick College, I have always been a great believer in "winning the morning." At Howick College, great things happen every day—I see it in the classrooms, the gym, on the sports fields, and in the Arts faculty. How we start our mornings can shape the success of our day. Seizing those early hours with purpose sets the tone, propelling you forward rather than leaving you playing catch-up. By winning the morning, you take control of the day. Last year, I shared part of a commencement address by Admiral William McRaven, in which he outlined ten important life lessons. The first was simple: "Make your bed." Completing this small task first thing in the morning gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment and encourages you to complete another task, and another. This can easily become part of your routine to "win the morning." The morning sets the tone for the day. Our girls' rugby team makes the most of their dawn training session. I start my day early with an espresso and some quiet time to think about the day ahead. I drive to the gym, listening to a range of motivational music, follow a routine at the gym, and then head to school. By the time I arrive at Howick College around 7:30 am, I have been up for three hours and feel energised, organised, and ready to start the day positively. Along the way and upon arriving at school, I see many others also "winning the morning." Well done to our teams and individuals in the gym, on the field, in the weights shed, in classrooms getting organised, out running or walking, or engaging in mindful activities. Some useful ways to win the morning include: Waking up early Creating a structured routine Being consistent and making it a habit Using the time to focus on personal growth—practicing self-care, pursuing a passion project, or working towards personal or team fitness/strength goals. By starting each morning with purpose, you build habits that lead to success—not just for the day, but in the long term. The small choices you make in the morning set the foundation for achievement in all areas of life. Win the morning, and you’ll win the day. Have a great weekend. Dale Burden Principal/Tumuaki *Mr Burden is featured in the "Principal In Person" article of this week's edition of the Times Online.

KEY DATES Monday 3 March Student ID Photo Catch Up Day Wednesday 5 March NCEA Parent Information Evening From 6:00pm Thursday 20 - Friday 21 March Summer Sports Teams, Cultural Groups & Y13 Photos Monday 24 - Friday 28 March Summer Tournament Week Friday 28 March Teacher Only Day Tuesday 8 April - Friday May 2 Dental Planet on Site Friday 4 April  NZ Blood Collection Monday 7 - Thursday 10 April Senior Drama Production Monday 7 - Friday 11 April Spirit Week Friday 11 April  Term 1 Ends Friday 18 April Good Friday Monday 21 April Easter Monday Friday 25 April ANZAC Day Monday 28 April Term 2 Begins

HOWICK COLLEGE NETBALL IN SAFE HANDS

From left: Zermahnia Manu (Yr 13), Ayva-Leigh Gelling (Yr 9), Mrs Tania Tuinukuafe, Mrs Adelita Sotutu, Jin Leaunoa (Yr 10), Cloe Pratt (Yr 13)

We are pleased to announce that Mrs Tania Tuinukuafe has been appointed as the new Director of Netball at Howick College. With 27 years of coaching experience, including five years at our school, Mrs Tuinukuafe has been a key contributor to our netball programme. Under her guidance as head coach, the Premier 2 squad won their competition last year, and she assisted the Premier 1 team in achieving multiple championships in 2024, including the Auckland Secondary Schools, UNISS, and NZSS National titles. She also oversees the Howick College Netball Academy, which expanded this year to support Year 9 and 10 players.

Mrs Tuinukuafe takes over from Mrs Adelita Sotutu, who has been instrumental in elevating our netball programme to national prominence. In her expanded role as Director of Sport, Mrs Sotutu will focus on the continued development of the sports programme at Howick College, as student participation in all codes continues to grow.

We are confident that under Mrs Tuinukuafe's leadership, our netball programme will continue to thrive, building upon the strong foundation established by Mrs Sotutu. 

The full story can be read in this week's edition of the Times Online.

INTER-HOUSE COMPETITION POINTS UPDATE

MEET THE YEAR 9 TUTORS & DEANS

We were delighted to welcome over 400 parents to the "Meet the Y9 Tutor Teachers and Deans" evening on Wednesday night. Principal Mr Burden commenced the event by outlining our key strategic themes for the year which include:

• Fostering a collaborative culture where successes are celebrated and best practice is shared to build continuous improvement.
• Establishing and sustaining an environment that enables our people to feel safe valued and have a sense of belonging.
• Developing a culture where expectations are high and clearly defined and where personal responsibility and accountability are valued.

He then went on to outline how parents and caregivers can support the school to achieve these important goals:

• Be involved in your child’s learning journey
• Talk with your child about aiming for Merit and Excellence
• Check their uniform, make up, jewellery and grooming
• Use the Portal to monitor their attendance, lates and progress
  

Following the presentation, parents participated in interactive sessions within their respective House groups, where they met with Deans and tutor teachers for Q & A discussions. We would like to thank everyone who took the opportunity to start an ongoing relationship with the college and encourage all parents to keep the lines of communication open with their child's tutor or subject teachers, staying engaged throughout their child's five-year journey at Howick College.

NCEA PARENT/CAREGIVER INFORMATION EVENING

Year 10 and 11 parents and caregivers are warmly invited to attend an NCEA information evening on Wednesday, 5 March, at 6:00 pm in the Bill Dimery Performing Arts Centre. Year 12 and 13 families who have recently arrived in New Zealand may also find this session beneficial. The evening  will cover the fundamentals of the NCEA system, how to support your child, and key questions to ask as they progress through their NCEA journey. Students are not expected to attend, as they will receive their own NCEA information at an assembly during school hours.

NEW ACCOMODATION COORDINATOR APPOINTED We are excited to welcome Maryna Truter to our International team as the new International Accommodation Coordinator! Mrs Truter is looking forward to supporting our students, homestay families, and residential caregivers to ensure a positive and enriching experience. Her goal is to offer guidance, foster a welcoming environment, and maintain strong communication with both families and the wider school community. If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a homestay family and welcoming international students to your home, please email [email protected] or visit the  "Become a Homestay Family" page of our website.

AFRO HOUSE DANCE COMES TO HOWICK COLLEGE

Driven by her passion for dance, Melissa Zhilkina, an international student from Russia who joined Howick College at the beginning of Term 1, has enthusiastically embraced college life by establishing our first-ever Afro House dance group. Afro House dance, which originated in Angola in the 1990s, is celebrated for its energetic movements and vibrant rhythms. It's a fantastic way to express creativity and stay active. Led by Melissa and her fellow dance student, Shiloh Davids, the Afro House dance group will meet every Thursday during interval in D9. Whether you're an experienced dancer or eager to try something new, everyone is welcome to join. We look forward to the dynamic energy Melissa, Shiloh, and the Afro House dance group will bring to our school community.

ARRIVING ON TIME 

Arriving at school and to class on time is crucial for your child's educational experience. Being punctual helps them to develop self-discipline, start the day smoothly, and fully engage with their lessons. It also maintains a focused classroom environment for all students.

As outlined in our attendance procedure on the "Our Expectations" page of our website, students who arrive after 8:50am must provide an explanation from their parent or caregiver, either as a written note or an email to [email protected]. They must also report to the Student Office for a late pass. If a student accumulates 3 unjustified late arrivals to school or to class, a reflection will be issued. A reflection will then be issued for every 3 unjustified late arrivals after that.

We appreciate your support in helping your child to arrive on time, setting them up for a successful day.

KINDO PAYMENTS

As most of our community will now be aware, we have introduced Kindo as our preferred payment system for donations, course and sports fees, school trips, fundraisers, and more. What this means: Payments can no longer be made via the Kamar Financial tab or direct bank deposits. Families are encouraged to set up a Kindo account, remembering to use the email address on file with the school. If you already have a myKindo or ezlunch account, simply update your details—no need to create a new account. If your account has been inactive for over 15 months, contact the Kindo Helpdesk to reactivate it. For full sign-up instructions, click here to download the flyer or visit our website. If you need assistance, please visit the Kindo online support pages. Need more help? Kindo Helpdesk: 8:00am – 4:00pm (weekdays) Freephone: 0508 4 KINDO (0508 454 636) Email: [email protected]

UPCOMING CAREERS EVENTS

Who: Techtorium - New Zealand Institute of Information Technology
What: Techtorium specialise in Software Development and Computer Engineering courses, if this is something you are interested in please come along to hear what they have to say.
When: Tuesday 4 March, 1:40pm (lunchtime)
Where: H3

Who: Your Education - High School Exchanges
What: Come along and learn more about short-term, semester and full year exchanges to USA, Canada, Europe and Japan.
When: Wednesday 5 March, 11:10am (interval)
Where: H3

Who: Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT)
What: This event is for year 11 - 13 students wanting to gain more information about opportunities in vocational pathways or tertiary level studies at MIT.
When: Thursday 6 March, 1:40pm (lunchtime)
Where: H3

For the latest Careers updates and information, please visit our CareerWise hub.

LITERACY & NUMERACY CO-REQUISITE SUPPORT

To support students preparing for the co-requisite digital exams in Week 5 of Term 2, Mrs Nairn and Mrs Henkin have created Google Classrooms with resources. All Year 10 students and senior students who have yet to sit or need to re-sit these exams must join using the codes below.

STUDY CENTRE Where: A4 When: Interval & Lunchtime The Study Centre provides a quiet space for students to work independently on their classwork and homework. Student tutors are not yet confirmed, but we will update you once they are available for bookings. STUDENT ID PHOTOS - CATCH UP DAY Photolife will be on site Monday 3 March to take student ID photos of all those students who missed last week's photos. Please make sure you are neatly groomed (e.g. boys clean shaven) and in the correct Howick College uniform as outlined in the Uniform and Grooming Policy on our website. 9:00am - Year 9 students 9:20am - Year 10 students 9:40am - Year 11 students 10:00am - Year 12 students 10:20am - Year 13 students JEWELLERY REMINDER We would like to remind students that jewellery is to be kept to a minimum. As outlined below and on our website, students may wear a selection of the following items: One ring per hand, one necklace OR one bracelet, two small gold/silver studs or sleeper earrings per ear, one nose stud or clear retainer.   Please Note: nose rings, septum rings, facial piercings and tongue piercings are NOT permitted and students will be required to remove them. YEARBOOK UPDATE The 2024 Yearbook is currently at the printers and is expected to arrive in approximately 10 working days. While this is slightly later than anticipated, we appreciate your patience and understanding. We will provide a further update as soon as it is available and look forward to sharing this record of the year with you soon. SPORTS NEWS Athletics Day Championship Results While last week's Athletics Day provided a fun way for most participants to show their House spirit and contribute points in the Inter-House competition, a group of dedicated athletes were there to push their limits and potentially qualify for the upcoming Auckland Secondary Schools Athletics Competition. Congratulations to the following students who acheived top placings in their respective age-level categories: Top Results For Double Sculls Teams On 8 February, the Howick College Rowing team travelled to Lake Pupuke for the annual Head of Harbour regatta. With crews from across the region competing, the regatta provided an exciting day of racing under challenging conditions. While the overall results weren’t quite as hope for, the team demonstrated incredible determination and team spirit throughout the competition. A standout performance came from Leon Burgess and Max Willats (pictured left), who finished in 2nd place in the Boys U16 double scull, amidst tough competition. Despite the challenges, the team’s effort and resilience were commendable. The following weekend, at the College Sport Auckland Rowing Champs/Junior Regatta, the team displayed skill and determination across all events. Every athlete pushed their limits, demonstrating exceptional teamwork throughout the event. The highlight of the weekend was the girls U17 double scull crew, Olivia Long and Yalini Velmurugan (pictured right) who dominated their final, earning a well-deserved first place in the C final. Beyond the racing, the team bonded both on and off the water, creating lasting memories. We wish the team all the best as they now prepare for the upcoming North Island Secondary Schools Rowing Championship, taking place from 7-9 March. Sports Notices FOOTBALL BOYS - SENIOR TRIALS Thursday 6 and Friday 7 March, 3:30pm - 5:00pm Meet on Football Field 1. Bring your boots, shin pads and water bottles. This is an open trial to pick our 1st and 2nd teams. We hope to see lots of seniors there!   NETBALL TRIALS Year 9, Year 10, Seniors and Premier grades Sunday 2 March and Saturday 8 March Time: 8:30am to 12pm Venue: Howick Pakuranga Netball Centre To register: Email [email protected] indicating the three positions that you are trialing for. Underwater Hockey Have a Go Days Ever wondered what playing hockey in a pool is like? The come along and try it! Howick College Underwater Hockey invites you to come along to the "Have a Go" days which will take place on Sunday 2 March from 2.30-4.00pm at the Manurewa Pool, Sykes Road. It's FREE to try and gear is supplied. Any queries, please contact [email protected]   Sports Draw for Week 5 HOWICK COLLEGE LIBRARY BOOK OF THE WEEK Don't Call Me Ishmael By Michael Gerard Bauer This young-adult novel is about bullying, but it is also about identity, self-acceptance, the nature and importance of friendship and about resilience and hope. The novel highlights the importance and power of language. Ishmael is a young teenager who, like many other teenagers, struggles with being different. Ishmael loathes his name and the back story to his naming. He is convinced that his name is to blame for the daily awkwardness that he feels is peculiar to him. It is not until he meets the new boy, James Scobie, and faces a series of circumstances that are thrust upon Scobie and himself, that he realises that a teenager can be very different but still have courage if he has the power of words and rational thought on his side. Ishmael ends up forming connections with the unlikeliest band of friends and they become instrumental in helping him overcome his fears, his insecurity, and the taunts of school bully Barry Bagsley…   Library hours are from 8:30am - 3:30pm, Monday to Friday.